Display rack for locksets

ABSTRACT

A display and demonstrator rack for cylindrical locksets of the type used on entryway doors. The rack supports a number of unpackaged, sample locksets in a manner that permits turning of the knobs to operate the knob spindle for retraction of the latchbolt as well as operation of a key or button lock mechanism when provided. The rack also includes means for securing each lockset in place to discourage removal and pilferage.

United States Patent [1 1 Folberth, Jr.

[ 51 Nov. 27, 1973 DISPLAY RACK FOR LOCKSETS [76] Inventor: William M.Folberth, Jr., 3535 W.

140th, Cleveland, Ohio 4411 I [22] Filed: Oct. 20, I972 [21] Appl. No.:299,304

, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,473,045 2/1967 OTHER PUBLICATIONSIndependent Lock Co. Catalogue No. 12, 1941 page France PrimaryExaminer-Harland S. Skogquist Att0rneyMcCoy, Greene & Howell [5 7ABSTRACT A display and demonstrator rack for cylindrical locksets of thetype used on entryway doors. The rack supports a number of unpackaged,sample locksets in a manner that permits turning of the knobs to operatethe knob spindle for retraction of the latchbolt as well as operation ofa key or button lock mechanism when provided. The rack also includesmeans for securing each lockset in place to discourage removal andpilferage.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 DISPLAY RACK FOR LOCKSETS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to the display and demonstration atthe point of sale, of cylindrical locksets of the type used in entrywaydoors, and especially to a rack for displaying a number, of unpackaged,sample locksets of different types in a manner that permits operationthereof by customers for the purpose of comparison and demonstration.More particularly, the invention relates to a display rack of the typedescribed to which locksets to be displayed and demonstrated may besecured to prevent removal and damage as well as to prevent pilferage.

Cylindrical locksets of the type used with entryway doors in commercialbuildings, private homes and the like are sold directly to consumers forreplacement and home improvement purposes through retail establishments,such as hardware and department stores. Usually the product line willinclude three or more different types of locksets for different uses.The more conventional types include key-type locksets for outsideentryway doors, button lock-type locksets for bedroom and bathroom doorsand latching-type locksets (no locking mechanism) for closet doors, etc.The sets are usually packaged in boxes or cartons which must be openedin order for the set to be viewed by the customer and demonstrated by asalesman. Thus, current practices as to the display of the product atthe point of sale are generally inadequate, inconvenient andtime-consuming for both salesclerks and customers.

Also, once a box or carton containing a lockset has been opened and leftin that condition at the point of sale, its contents are vulnerable topilferage and the mechanisms may be easily damaged by improperoperation.

The device of the present invention, however, resolves the difficultiesand the long-felt need indicated above, and affords other features andadvantages heretofore not obtainable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is among the objects of the invention tomore adequately display and demonstrate unpackaged cylindrical locksetsat the point of sale in retail stores.

Another object is to display several different types of cylindricallocksets in the same product line in a manner to permit operation by acustomer for demonstration purposes.

Still another object is to inhibit pilferage or breakage of locksetsdisplayed for sale in retail stores.

These and other objects and'advantages are accomplished in accordancewith the present invention by means of a display and demonstrator rackadapted to be hung on a wall or a vertical panel such as a pegboardpanel and to support in operable condition a plurality of samplecylindrical locksets. The rack includes an upright frame structure withprovision for securing it to the wall or panel and a plurality ofsupporting brackets vertically spaced from one another and extendingoutwardly from the frame structure. Each bracket is adapted to support asample lockset. At the outer end of each bracket is a retainer loopfastened to the bracket and defining an opening of sufficient size toreceive a latchbolt housing that is passed through from the outside andconnected to its respective knob and spindle assembly so that theretainer loop is located between the latchbolt housing plate and theknob and spindle assembly. The opening is of a size sufficiently smallthat the latchbolt housing plate cannot be passed through it and thusthe lockset cannot be removed from the rack unless it is disassembled.Also when a lockset is so supported by its respective bracket andretainer loop, the knobs may be turned to operate the latchbolt and thelocking mechanism may be actuated in order that the functioning of thelockset can be demonstrated to a prospective purchaser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating a display and demonstrator rack embodying the invention andshowing a lockset supported and retained by the lowermost bracket of therack,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings, there is shown a lockset 10 (the lockset by itself beingof standard design and construction and forming no part of theinvention) supported on a display and demonstrator rack 11 embodying theinvention. The rack 11 is shown for the purpose of illustration, hung ona wall panel 12 with symmetrically spaced perforations and knowngenerally in the trade as pegboard. While for the purpose ofillustration, only one lockset 10 is shown on the rack 11, the rack isadapted to support for display and demonstration three samplecylindrical locksets which usually would be of different types in oneparticular product line. The lockset 10 is of the type adapted for usein bedroom and bathroom entryway doors and it uses a locking button 13so that the door may be locked and unlocked normally from the insideonly.

The lockset 10 also includes an inside knob 15 that contains the lockingbutton 13, an outside knob 16 (not provided with a locking mechanism),inside and outside sleeves 17 and 18 respectively, an inside rose 19, anoutside rose 20 and a conventional latchbolt assembly. The latchboltassembly includes a latchbolt 21, a latchbolt housing 22 and a latchboltplate 23 secured to the latchbolt housing 22 and adapted to be anchoredto the end face of the entryway door to which the lockset is to beattached.

A spindle and retractor mechanism (not shown) as well as the internalportions of the latchbolt 21 are located within a cylindrical case 24adapted to be fitted in a bore extending through an entryway door in amanner well known and understood by those skilled in the art.

The rack 11 is formed by bent lengths of round steel rod welded togetherand includes a pair of spaced parallel vertical hanger rods 30 and 31having anchor lugs 32 and 33 respectively at their upper ends for use inattaching the rack 11 to the pegboard panel 12. The lugs extend throughholes in the panel 12 in the conventional manner and the rods 30 and 31are spaced apart a predetermined standard spacing so that the lugs 32and 33 register with two holes at the same level in standard pegboard.Welded to the hanger rods 30 and 31 are three spaced U-shaped brackets34, 35 and 36,

lug 40, 41 at its inner end that is welded to the respective hanger rod.The arms 38 and 39 are spaced from one another such that when thelockset 10 is supported thereon, the point of engagement between eacharm and the lockset occurs at the sleeves 17 and 18 between therespective knobs and 16 and roses 19 and 20. Thus, when the lockset 10is so supported, both knobs 15 and 16 are free to be turned to retractthe latchbolt 21 for the purpose of demonstration.

Welded to the cross span 37 of each of the brackets 34, 35 and 36 is anupright retainer loop 42, defining with the respective cross span 37 anopening of sufficient size to receive therethrough the latchbolt housing22 of the lockset 10. The opening, however, is of a size sufficientlysmall that the latchbolt housing plate 23 cannot be passed through it.Thus, in order to locate the lockset 10 in its position for display anddemonstration on the respective bracket of the rack 11, the lockset 10must be disassembled to the extent that the latchbolt and housingassembly is removed from the spindle and knob assembly.

When disassembled, the latchbolt housing 22 is passed through therespective retainer loop 42 from the outside and then reconnected to thespindle and knob assembly resting on the arms 38 and 39 of the bracket.Thus, with the lockset assembled and so supported by the rack 11, theknobs may be turned to retract the latchbolt 21 and the locking button13 may be operated as desired to lock or unlock the spindle forretracting the latchbolt 21.

It will be readily apparent that the lockset 10 thus assembled andsupported on the rack 11 may not be removed from the rack unless it isdisassembled. Normally, two other sample locksets will be loaded on therack 11 with the button-type lockset 10 shown and described herein.Boxes containing the various types of locksets displayed are usuallystacked at a location close to the display and demonstrator rack 11 tobe sold to purchasers.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to aspecific embodiment thereof, this is intended for the purpose ofillustration rather than limitation and other modifications andvariations of the specific display rack herein shown and described willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art all within the intendedspirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the patent is not to belimited in scope and effect to the specific embodiment herein shown anddescribed nor in any other way that is inconsistent with the extent towhich the progress in the art has been advanced by the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a cylindrical lockset comprising a latch boltassembly including a housing with an integral plate, and a knob andspindle assembly interconnectable with said latch bolt assembly; and adisplay and demonstrator rack comprising an upright frame, a pluralityof vertically spaced supporting brackets extending outwardly from saidframe and adapted to support in operable condition, said knob andspindle assembly, and a plurality of lockset retaining means, one beinganchored to the outer portion of each of said brackets,

each retaining means defining with its respective bracket an openingadapted to receive therethrough, said latch bolt housing and to retainsaid latch bolt plate on the outer side thereof, whereby said lockset issupported in operable condition for the purpose of demonstration, andsecured against casual removal, on said rack.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said rack includes threeof said brackets.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 including means integral withsaid upright frame for hanging said rack on a vertical pegboard panel.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said rack is formed oflengths of round steel rod bent to shape and welded together.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said brackets are of agenerally U-shaped configuration.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining meanscomprises an upright loop of metal rod having its legs secured to theouter end of said bracket.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said brackets are inplanes parallel to one another and having a downward slope toward saidupright frame.

1. In combination, a cylindrical lockset comprising a latch boltassembly including a housing with an integral plate, and a knob andspindle assembly interconnectable with said latch bolt assembly; and adisplay and demonstrator rack comprising an upright frame, a pluralityof vertically spaced supporting brackets extending outwardly from saidframe and adapted to support in operable condition, said knob andspindle assembly, and a plurality of lockset retaining means, one beinganchored to the outer portion of each of said brackets, each retainingmeans defining with its respective bracket an opening adapted to receivetherethrough, said latch bolt housing and to retain said latch boltplate on the outer side thereof, whereby said lockset is supported inoperable condition for the purpose of demonstration, and secured againstcasual removal, on said rack.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1wherein said rack includes three of said brackets.
 3. A combination asdefined in claim 1 including means integral with said upright frame forhanging said rack on a vertical pegboard panel.
 4. A combination asdefined in claim 1 wherein said rack is formed of lengths of round steelrod bent to shape and welded together.
 5. A combination as defined inclaim 4 wherein said brackets are of a generally U-shaped configuration.6. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining meanscomprises an upright loop of metal rod having its legs secured to theouter end of said bracket.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 1wherein said brackets are in planes parallel To one another and having adownward slope toward said upright frame.